About the Program

The First-Year Program (FYP) at St. Lawrence is one of the oldest living/learning programs for first year students in the country. Over the past 25 years, the program has evolved in ways that make us confident that the program helps students make a successful transition from high school to college, both academically and socially.

Residential colleges are the heart of the FYP. In their first semester, students live in one of 18 residential colleges with all of the other students enrolled in their FYP course. This interdisciplinary, team-taught course focuses on a topic of broad interest, and is one of the four courses that first year students take in the fall. FYP courses help students develop the writing, speaking, and research skills that they will need during and after college.

A student’s academic advisor is one of the faculty members in his/her college. Additionally, the residential staff and faculty work together to help build a community in which students can develop friendships and succeed academically. In the spring semester of their first year, our students continue to work on developing their communication skills by enrolling in a First-Year Seminar (FYS). Although these seminars are not residentially-based, they are small, thus allowing students to build close relationships with another group of students and with another faculty member. Students who wish to enroll in the seminar taught by their Fall FYP seminar instructor/advisor are guaranteed a spot in this seminar. The spring courses cover a wide range of topics, whether through interdisciplinary or disciplinary study.